Nestable hamper with multi-segmented lid

ABSTRACT

A nestable hamper has a multi-segmented lid. The body of the hamper includes a wire frame with a fabric material stretched across the frame to form the bottom and side surfaces of the hamper. The hamper has a narrower base and a wider top, thereby allowing multiple instances of the hamper to be vertically stacked, with each hamper being nested within the similarly-constructed hamper immediately below. A flexible periphery of the lid permits the lid to be insertable through a top opening of the hamper that is smaller in dimension that that of the lid, enabling the lid to rest adjacent a back interior surface of the hamper, thereby permitting multiple instances of the hamper to be stacked and nested compactly.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser.No. 62/304,171, filed Mar. 5, 2016, the entirety of which is herebyincorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates, in general, to garment storage and, moreparticularly, to laundry hampers for storing and transporting garmentsprior to laundering them.

2. General Background of the Invention

Laundry and garment hampers have been in use for some time. It is oftendesirable for laundry hampers to include some form of cover, in order toconceal soiled garments contained therein as they await laundering, tolargely contain any concomitant odors within the hamper's interior, andto retain the garments within the hamper during transport. A prior artlaundry hamper with an attached cover is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.D279,038 to Thompson, Jr.

Laundry hampers can be relatively large in size and, like many articlesthat are displayed and sold in a retail setting, and that aretransported in bulk prior to retail sale, there is sometimes a desire tostore multiple instances of laundry hampers in a relatively compactspace. U.S. Pat. No. 9,174,769 discloses a laundry hamper whereinmultiple instances of the hamper may be nested together in a relativelycompact space.

Prior art laundry hampers with attached lids generally do not lendthemselves to stacking and nesting multiple instances of the hamperscompactly, as their associated lids are generally too large, or notproperly configured, to be disposed within the interior of the hamperwhen not in use, and thus interfere with efficient nesting of thehampers.

Accordingly, it is another object of the present invention to provide alaundry hamper having a lid, yet is still capable of being stacked in acompact, nested fashion.

This and other objects and features of the present invention will becomeapparent in view of the following specification, drawings and claims.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a nestable hamper having amulti-segmented, attached or integrally formed lid. The body of thehamper includes a wire frame with a fabric material stretched across theframe to form the various bottom and side surfaces of the hamper. Thehamper has a narrower base and a wider top, thereby allowing multipleinstances of the present invention to be vertically stacked, with eachhamper being nested within the similarly-constructed hamper immediatelybelow. It is the shape and construction of the present hamper's fabriclid that permits the hamper to be nestable, without having to remove thelid from the remainder of the structure. Thus, the lid may be integrallyformed with, or permanently affixed to, the body of the hamper.

The lid's construction includes two segments having relatively rigidinner stiffening material, such as paperboard, each covered with afabric material. One segment forms an associated panel serving as a topcovering for the hamper, when the lid is deployed in the closedposition, and another segment serves as a front flap that, once sodeployed, overlying a portion of the front outer surface of the hamper.These two panels are separated with a linear region of fabric beingdisposed between them, thus creating a hinged region corresponding withthe front opening of the hamper, which allows the lid to bend and centeritself over the front top opening of the hamper, thereby keeping thestructure of the lid centered and in place when in the closed position.

Notably, the size, shape and construction of the lid enable it to berepositioned inwardly and vertically downwards, through the top openingof the hamper and adjacent the inner back panel of the hamper'sinterior. This, in turn, allows the hamper's structure to be nestedcompactly with other instances of like construction during freightthereby reducing shipping costs as well as improving merchandising byallowing the structure to be nested and presented to consumers with theentire hamper (body and lid) in one piece.

The design of the lid is such that the rigid stiffeners are narrower indimension than the surrounding fabric of the overall lid itself, and theside and front perimeter region of the lid thus consists entirelyfabric. In an embodiment of the invention, there is a 2 to 3 centimeterfabric lip forming the side and front periphery of the lid that allowsfor this flexibility, such that the lid can be positioned inwardly, downand through the top opening of the hamper and disposed against the innerrear surface of the hamper, without having to bend or deform thestiffener. While the hamper is tapered vertically, and while theside-to-side width and rear-to-front dimensions of the lid are somewhatlarger in dimension that the corresponding dimensions of the top openingof the hamper, this flexible periphery of the lid enables the lid to bedisposed inwardly, adjacent the inner back panel of the hamper, toenable multiple instances of the hamper to be stacked in a nestedconfiguration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an elevated perspective view of a nestable hamper of thepresent invention, with the lid in a partially open position;

FIG. 2 is an elevated, perspective view of the nestable hamper of FIG.1, with the front and side surfaces of the body being shown in phantomto better show the lid in an inwardly disposed position;

FIG. 3 is an elevated, perspective view of the nestable hamper of FIG.1, with the lid in a closed position; and

FIG. 4 is an elevated side view of four instances of the nestable hamperof FIG. 1, nested together and with each having its associated lid in aninwardly disposed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

While the present invention is susceptible of embodiment in manydifferent forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein bedescribed in detail, one specific embodiment, with the understandingthat the present disclosure is intended as an exemplification of theprinciples of the present invention and is not intended to limit theinvention to the embodiment illustrated.

An embodiment of the present nestable hamper 10 is shown in FIGS. 1-3 ascomprising body 15 having support frame 20, fabric covering 30, and lid40. Support frame 20 comprises a framework consisting of a plurality ofinterconnected bars or rods 21, over which fabric or textile material 30is stretched, forming a plurality of planar panels, namely front panel22, rear panel 23, left panel 24, right panel 25, and bottom panel 26.These panels collectively form a container closed on five sides andhaving a top aperture or opening 27. Handles 35 are attached to theexterior of left panel 24 and right panel 25, facilitating the graspingand transport of nestable hamper 10 for individual transport. The widthand depth of top opening 27 are both larger in dimension than thecorresponding dimensions of bottom panel 26. As a result, body 25 isprogressively tapered from top to bottom in both width and depth, havingthe general shape of an inverted, truncated square pyramid, permittingmultiple instances of body 15 to be stacked in a nested fashion.Moreover, front panel 22 of body 15 is shorter in height than rear panel23. Resultantly, top opening 27 of body 15 is canted, or angled forward,back to front.

Lid 40 comprises three hinged segments, namely front flap segment 41,top cover segment 42, and rear attachment segment 43. Each lid segment,and lid 40 overall, may be constructed, for example, of fabric ortextile material 50, such as by stitching together top and bottom layersof such material. Rear attachment segment 43 is coupled to the exteriorsurface of rear panel 23, such as by stitching. Front flap segment 41further comprises an internal front strengthening member 45, which isgenerally trapezoidal in configuration. Top cover segment 42 furthercomprises an internal top strengthening member 46, which is generallyrectangular in configuration. A third strengthening member mayoptionally be disposed within rear attachment segment 43 of lid 40. Eachstrengthening member is disposed within a top layer and a bottom layerof fabric material 50 of lid 40, and may be constructed of paperboard,cardboard, plastic, or other relatively thin yet substantially rigidmaterial.

A front hinged region 51 of lid 40 is disposed between front flapsegment 41 and top cover segment 42 of lid 40. A rear hinged region 52of lid 40 is disposed between top cover segment 42 and rear attachmentsegment 43 of lid 40. Each hinged region may be constructed, forexample, by one or more sets of stitching disposed transversely acrossthe width of lid 40 and extending through the top and bottom layers offabric material 50 of lid 40.

As shown in FIG. 3, top cover segment 42 of lid 40 is slightly larger,in both width and depth, than the corresponding dimensions of topopening 27 of body 15. In a fully closed position of lid 40, top coversegment 42 completely overlies and covers top opening 27, with periphery60 on the left and right sides of top cover segment 42 extendingoutwardly beyond the dimensions of left panel 24 and right panel 25 ofbody 15. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 3, front flap segment 41 overliesand rests adjacent a corresponding upper region of front panel 22 ofbody 15 when lid 40 is in a fully closed position. Hook-and-loop orother suitable fasteners may optionally be employed to releasably couplefront flap segment 41 to front panel 22 in order to further maintain lid40 in its closed position.

Both front stiffening member 45 and top stiffening member 46 are shorterin dimension, in both width and depth, than that of top opening 27 ofbody 15 of nestable hamper 10. Moreover, front stiffening member 45 isshorter in dimension, in both width and depth, than that of front flapsegment 41. Likewise, top stiffening member 46 is shorter in dimension,in both width and depth, than that of top cover segment 42.

As a result, the fabric covering 50 of lid 40 includes pliableperipheral region 60 extending about the left, right, and front sides oflid 40. Pliable peripheral region 60, which preferably is 2 to 3centimeters in depth, thus forms a flexible lip about three sides of lid40. Inasmuch as: (i) pliable peripheral region is foldable relative tothe adjoining remainder of lid 40; (ii) the dimensions of frontstiffening member 45 and top stiffening member 46 are less than those ofthe corresponding dimensions of top opening 27; and (iii) front flapsegment 41 is hinged relative to top cover segment 42; front flapsegment 41 and top cover segment 42 are capable of being positionedinwardly, through top opening 27, such that these segments may bepositioned vertically, resting adjacent the inner surface of rear panel23 of body 15, and with lid 50 being bent or folded proximate the outeredges of front flap segment 41 and top cover segment 42, as shown inFIG. 2.

Resultantly, and as shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of nestable hampers 10,each with its associated lid 40 disposed inwardly and resting adjacentan inner surface of a corresponding rear panel 23, may be stackedvertically in nested fashion. This, in turn, permits a plurality ofnestable hampers 10 to be stored in a relatively compact space, forstorage, shipping, and display purposes.

Although, in the illustrated embodiment, the hamper body issubstantially rectangular in cross-section, other configurations arelikewise contemplated by, and within the scope of, the invention. Forexample, the hamper body may alternatively be cylindrical, and eithercircular or oval in cross-section, with an associated lid that is eithercircular or oval in general shape. In such a configuration, the lid willcontinue to have a bendable or foldable peripheral region, disposedabout an internal stiffener, that is larger in size than the top openingof the body. Moreover, in such a configuration, the lid, upon bending orfolding of the peripheral region, will be capable of being disposedthrough the top opening of the body, to rest adjacent an inner surfaceof the body, thereby facilitating the nestable stacking of multipleinstances of the hamper.

Furthermore, it is not necessary to embodiments of the invention havinga square, rectangular, or otherwise shaped cross-section that the rearof the hamper body proximate the opening be taller than the front of thehamper body. In other words, it is not necessary that the hamper's topopening be sloped in configuration. The sloping configuration merelypermits gravity to facilitate the lid falling into place more easilywhen closing the hamper.

Moreover, although, in the illustrated embodiment, the body of thehamper is constructed of fabric stretched over a wire frame, othermanners of constructing the body are likewise contemplated. For example,the hamper's body may alternatively be constructed of a relatively rigidyet lightweight plastic material.

Many modifications and variations of the present invention are possiblein light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood thatwithin the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practicedother than as specifically described. Various modifications, changes andvariations may be made in the arrangement, operation and details ofconstruction of the invention disclosed herein without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the invention. The present disclosure isintended to exemplify and not limit the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A portable laundry storage container, multipleinstances of which are stackable in nested fashion relative to eachother, comprising: a body having an exterior surface, an interiorsurface, and an opening having a perimeter; a lid pivotably coupled tobody, the lid being sized and positioned to overly and completely coverthe opening when the lid is in a closed position; a first strengtheningmember having a perimeter and operably coupled to the lid, the firststrengthening member being smaller than and positionable through theopening; the lid having a peripheral region extending outwardly beyondat least a portion of the perimeter of the first strengthening memberand being bendable relative to an adjacent region of the lid, at least aportion of the peripheral region extending beyond the perimeter of theopening when the lid is in the closed position; at least a portion ofthe lid being insertable through the opening of the body andpositionable adjacent the interior surface of the body only upon bendingat least a portion of the peripheral region of the lid towards the firststrengthening member.
 2. The invention according to claim 1, wherein thelid further includes a second strengthening member having a perimeterand being operably coupled to the lid, the first strengthening memberbeing associated with a first segment of the lid, the secondstrengthening member being associated with a second segment of the lid,the second segment of the lid being movable relative to the firstsegment of the lid.
 3. The invention according to claim 2, wherein theperipheral region further extends beyond a portion of the perimeter ofthe second strengthening member, at least a portion of the peripheralregion extending outwardly beyond at least a portion of the perimeter ofthe second strengthening member.
 4. The invention according to claim 2,wherein the first segment completely overlies and covers the opening ofthe body when the lid is in the closed position.
 5. The inventionaccording to claim 2, wherein the second segment comprises a front flapof the lid, the second segment being positionable adjacent an outerfront surface of the body when the lid is in the closed position.
 6. Theinvention according to claim 3, wherein the first segment and the secondsegment are both insertable through the opening of the body andpositionable adjacent the interior surface of the body upon bending atleast a first portion of the peripheral region of the lid towards thefirst strengthening member and upon further bending a second portion ofthe peripheral region of the lid towards the second strengtheningmember.
 7. The invention according to claim 2, wherein the first segmentand the second segment are both insertable through the opening of thebody and positionable adjacent the interior surface of the body uponbending at least a portion of the peripheral region of the lid towardsthe second strengthening member.
 8. The invention according to claim 1,wherein the body is substantially rectangular in cross-section and has arear inner surface, at least a portion of the lid being positionableadjacent the rear inner surface of the body.
 9. The invention accordingto claim 2, wherein the body is substantially rectangular incross-section and has a rear inner surface, the first segment of the lidand the second segment of the lid both being insertable through theopening of the body and positionable adjacent the rear inner surface ofthe body.
 10. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the firststrengthening member is disposed within an interior of the lid.
 11. Theinvention according to claim 2, wherein the second strengthening memberis disposed within an interior of the lid.
 12. The invention accordingto claim 1, wherein the body includes a bottom surface smaller indimension than the opening, and wherein the body tapers progressively insize from the opening to the bottom surface.
 13. The invention accordingto claim 1, wherein the body comprises a frame over which a fabricmaterial is stretched.
 14. The invention according to claim 1, whereinthe lid comprises a fabric material.
 15. The invention according toclaim 1, wherein the lid is hingedly coupled to a rear panel of thebody.
 16. The invention according to claim 1, further comprising atleast one handle operably coupled to the body.